tax deduction on church donation

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I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.

1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?

2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

Thanks
Dave

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wrote:
> I would appreciate the following information.
>
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?
>
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

Yes, they will give you a receipt. This usually is in the
form of a letter. This is what you use for your proof of
donation.

Missy Doyle

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

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writes:
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?

Yes. A receipt is required for any cash donation of $250 or
more. You must have the receipt in your possession before
you file your taxes.
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

A letter or receipt indicating the date of the donation, the
amount of the donation, the donor's name, the recipient of
the donation, the recipient's non-profit status, the
recipient's non-profit tax ID number (if they have one), and
the fact that no goods or services were received in exchange
for the donation.

The odds are that your church is completely familiar with
how to handle this.

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

<> wrote:
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?

Yes. You must have a written acknowledgement from them
stating the value of any benefits you received in exchange
for the donation before you file your return. See IRS
Publication 526.

The churches I've been involved with don't send individual
receipts to their members, but periodic reports. If you're
not a member of this particular parish and don't plan
further contributions there's no harm in asking them to give
you a receipt now.

--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?

Yes. Under 'current' law any single donation of $250 or
more must be acknowledged by a receipt. (The new Pension law
just passed may have changed this to require receipts for
all donations.)
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

A nice 'thank you' letter will do, saying that you gave the
money and got nothing tangible in return. The church knows
how to do this.

--
Don EA in Upstate NY

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

writes:
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.

I assume you mean you wish to deduct it from your income. In
any event, your maximum tax savings will be the amount of
the donation times your tax bracket rate. So if you are in
the 25% bracket, you'll save at most around $1250 in taxes.
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?

Yes. And that's true even if you meant "check" when you
said "cash". For donations of over $250 at a shot, a
cancelled check is *not* sufficient.
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

A letter/note from the church saying how much the donation
was, when it was made, and stating that you received no
goods or services in return for the donation. And
preferably on church letterhead and signed by an appropriate
officer (such as the pastor or the parish treasurer).

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

(Dave) posted:
> I would appreciate the following information.
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to
> Catholic church and also wish to be able to
> deduct taxes on this.
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort
> of proof or receipt on this so I can use for the
> proof of donation?
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

In this tax-savvy world of today, most churches are
accustomed to providing statements to parishioners,
confirming their donations and providing documentation for
tax files. So you may not even have to ask, but you should
inquire, and I'm sure they'll be happy to confirm your
donation in some manner.

You would simply keep the receipt with your tax records for
the year in question (presumably 2006), and it would be
available should the IRS ever query your itemized
deductions.

Bill

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

wrote:
> I would appreciate the following information.
>
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?
>
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

Any cash gift of $250 or more requires that you receive a
"receipt" from the church, indicating the amount and
containing the statement that "no goods or services" were
received in exchange for your donation. This "receipt" can
take any form (letter, preprinted form, etc), and should be
retained in your tax records. It is not necessary to attach
the receipt to your tax return - unless specifically
requested.

Of course, to claim any deduction for such donation, your
TOTAL itemized deductions must exceed the Standard Deduction
for your filing status. If less, you get no additional tax
benefit from your donation.

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

<> wrote:
> I would appreciate the following information.
>
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?
>
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

The donee organization has to provide written acknowledgment
- there is no speicified form or format

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

> I would appreciate the following information.
>
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?

For this amount, they do need to give you proof of receipt.
You will need some corroborating support for your deduction.
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

A thank you letter on their letterhead will work best.

Hope this helps,

Wayne Rivers, CPA

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?
>
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

No forms, just a letter. A 501(c)(3) is required to give
you a letter detailing your cash contribution if you gift
$250 or more.

I'm not sure of how it works with churches. Usually, after
the end of a year, the church would give you a statement of
your tithes made during the year.

The letter or statement would be enough substantiation for
the contribution.

Josh

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

wrote:
> I would appreciate the following information.
>
> I wish to make a $5000 cash donation to Catholic church and
> also wish to be able to deduct taxes on this.
>
> 1) Does the church need to give me some sort of proof or
> receipt on this so I can use for the proof of donation?

Yes. In fact, they are required by law to do so.
> 2) If so, what form/paperwork(s) are they?

A statement from the church stating the amount of the
donation with an explicit statement of the value of any
benefit you received other than feeling good about yourself
or being spiritually uplifted (or something like that).

<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>

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